Hey it’s the direct download link for  The Pedalshift Project 162: Multimodal Bike Touring and Spring Tour Preview (mp3).

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The Journal: Multimodal Bike Touring

Preparing for Multimodal

• You’re going to be biking, packing up, then perhaps biking again
• Transforming from bike touring to bus, train, plane, ferry or some Millennium Falcon-like transport
• Your needs can impact what you carry, in what, and how to break it down
• For DC to Cinci I’m riding a modified fully loaded version but with an eye towards being able to stealth camp if needed plus the need to get on at least 2 busses and a train

Mid ride considerations

• Getting your gear in one or two hands so you can load the bike however it goes
• Easily move around with gear to get into the transport
• Most useful example? Fast forward by municipal transit
• Traveling pretty light? Awesome, you’re already set.
• Two tricks to combine larger gear sets
  • Big duffel/shoulder bag
  • Bungee together panniers
• Give yourself time and prepare
• Bikes on bus front racks… lock or bungee the spring arm mechanism if it isn’t snug because of wheel size, front racks or fenders (super common for touring bikes).
• Be mindful of riding etiquette. Yes you have a crap ton of gear, but don’t take two seats at rush hour.
• Be extra nice to the operators and listen to them if they have special instructions.
• Move with deliberate speed when you load and unload and move aside.
• Repack your bike carefully. No rush here.

End of ride considerations

• You just finished your tour – hooray and boo!
• If packing your bike up and not riding at the other end, you have more wiggle room to include things you won’t need for travel.
• If riding the bike at the other end, this will look more like mid-ride rules.
• These tend to be longer-haul jaunts so make sure your bike is secure.
• Remember restrictions on anything you have that cannot be on board with you (flammables, sharps, etc.) and pack accordingly

Spring Tour Preview: DC to Cincinnati 

• Route has solidified – will post the final version after, but it’s essentially C&O to GAP to road route to OTET.
• As I mentioned, I’ll be riding my Safari with a modified fully-loaded setup
  • 2 panniers on read
  • 1 dry bag up front
  • Big duffel to consolidate at FFs
• Leaving from home
• Camping every night, with the caveat that I’ll hotel or Airbnb if I need to
• Stealth camping probable – listen to ep 161 for more on my take on that
• Itinerary currently requires miles every day BUT has a few options for compressing  (GAP especially) or diverting (flatten the road route and cut off the northern section of the OTET)
• This allows for any mechanical, weather  or illness zeros
• Sidebar… the “for entertainment purposes only” 10-day forecasts are looking like there’s a chance of rain early in the ride, every day. Temps look great (highs in the low 70s, lows in the upper 50s).
• Planned fast forwards are minimal distances (<20 miles) and are for (a) safety north of PGH and (b) avoiding duplicative riding on the OTET, while ensuring a complete through ride.
• I don’t rule out the possibility of using other FFs if they would enhance the ride in some way. 
• Meetup in Cinci! pedalshift.net/cinci if you’re around the early evening (i.e. after work) on May 14 and want to hang.
• Live along the C&O, GAP or OTET? Some of you have already reached out! There may be some opportunity for helloes so please feel free to reach out. At the very least I appreciate real local tips on where to get good food or beer on the ride, especially in Ohio since it’s my first time riding there.